HGF has previously been shown to bind DS with higher affinity than CS (13). Control shRNA TE-1 cells were stained with recombinant, biotinylated HGF and anti-IdoA antibody and visualized using confocal microscopy. In support of a direct interaction of HGF with IdoA of DS, partial co-localization on the cell surface was observed (Fig. 3A), and HGF binding was significantly reduced in shRNA-a and shRNA–b cells, as compared to control shRNA cells (Fig 3B). Notably, these cells expressed equal amounts of the MET receptor, which supports a direct role of IdoA in HGF binding (Fig. 3C).
